Teen dies after current pulled him underwater at beach, officials say

ATLANTA, Ga. (WANF/Gray News) - Tragedy struck a family when an Atlanta teen drowned after a current pulled him underwater at a beach in Georgia.

Officials said they were called to Tybee Island’s Back River Beach in Savannah around 11:45 a.m., where three people had been swept under the waves.

Two of them were rescued, but 16-year-old Laquavis McCray, couldn’t be located, WANF reported.

Game wardens and marine patrol searched for McCray and located his body hours later.

McCray’s mother Anita, said she first received the call of her son’s death while working at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

“When they told me, my heart dropped,” she said. “They told me my baby passed away, that he drowned and the current took him away.”

She said that was her son’s first visit to the beach and that he had never swam before.

“If you’ve never swim before, just don’t go that far,” McCray said. “Stay where the water hits your feet and be mindful, don’t let anybody persuade you or pressure you.”